Fill valve for flush tanks



June 23, 1964 w. l.. wHlTsoN 3,138,171

FILL VALVE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed Nov. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sh 1 June 23, 1964 w. l.. wHlTsoN 3,138,171

FILL VALVE FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed NOV. 28, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,138,171 FILL VALVE FOR FLUSH TANKS William L. Whitson, 11871 Topaz Circle, Garden Grove, Calif. Filed Nov. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 240,513 6 Claims. (Cl. 137-406) This invention relates to a ll valve for flush tanks, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved valve of this character to replace the conventional float valve customarily used, and which will obviate the difficulties sometimes encountered in such oat valves by insuring the accurate automatic seating of the valve after the requisite time lapse between emptying the tank and refilling the same, or during the'discharge of the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a valve of this type which is exceptionally silent in operation, which is sturdy and durable in construction, which is` reliable and efficient in operation, which affords a tight seal when in closed position, and which is adjustable within predetermined limits as to the speed of lling and the elapsed time between discharge and lling.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of constructron.

Other objects will in part be pointed out hereinafter and in part be shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings: f

FIGURE 1 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section disclosing the valve assembly of the instant invention in association with a flush tank.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the valve mechanism of the instant invention taken from the interior of the tank.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line-S of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, parts thereof being indicated in dotted lines. l

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. l as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows, parts thereof being broken away.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is generally indicated at 10 a flush tank for a toilet or commode, including the usual ball discharge valve 11 closing an outlet 12 to a discharge pipe 13 leading to the toilet in the usual manner. Valve 11 is actuated through any desired conventional control rod 15 by means of an operating handle 16 of conventional type. l

An inlet pipe 17 extends through suitable sealing gaskets 18 and 19 in the bottom of the tank to a valve generally indicated at 20 which is positioned in a cylindrical receptacle 21, the top 22 of which extends above the valve. Inlet pipe 17 extends into receptacle 21 through a sealed opening 23, and an outlet extension24 extends out of the opposite side of the receptacle through a sealed opening 25, outlet extension 24 serving to ll tank 1t) when valve 20 is opened in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

Valve Ztl comprises a generally T-shaped construction,

the ends of the cross head of which are interiorly threaded as at 26 and 27 to receive the correspondingly threaded ends 28 and 29 of inlet pipe 17 and outlet extension 24. The stem 30 of the T-Shaped valve is externally threaded as at 31 to receive the corresponding internal threads 32 of a reduction fitting 33 which is internally threaded to receive the threaded end of a short length of pipe 34 which is provided with an external sealing gasket 35. A horizontal partition 36 extends across the interior of the cross head of the valve and has a central opening 37 which is closed by a' sealing plug 38 which surrounds a stern 39 having a central opening or bore 40 extending longitudinally thereof.

A float member 42 surrounds stem 39 and is surmounted by a rubber sealing gasket or washer 43 which seats beneath the opening 37 and effectively seals the opening when the valve is in closed position. A leather cupshaped washer 44 is positioned on the underside of oat 42, and is secured in position by a washer 45 and a clamph ing nut 46.

A space or chamber 47 is thus provided beneath iloat 42 when the valve is in closed position, and bore 40 provides a reduced uid connection between the inlet pipe 17 and the stem of Valve 20, and consequently, with chamber 47 and pipe 34.

At its lower end pipe 34 is exteriorly threaded as at 50 to engage the internal threads of a fitting 51 which is also internally threaded at its opposite end to engage the external threads 52 of a pipe section 53 provided internally with a valve seat 54 which is engaged by a ball valve 55. The underside of ball valve 55 is normally contacted by a rod 56 which is guided in a fitting 57 which is apertured to permit the passage of fluid from fitting 51 and pipe 34 around the ball valve 55 when the latter is in open position.

A ilow retarding plate 69 having inner and outer flanges 61 and 62 respectively extends between pipe 53 and cylinder 21, and is provided with reduced apertures 64 for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. Openings 65 are also provided in pipe 53 above plate 6G.

The lower portion of pipe 53 is closed by a plug 66 through which extends a threaded extension 67 of rod 56. The lower portion of threaded member 67 extends through an opening in a washer 68 and is provided with a pair of adjusting nuts 69 and 70. An auxiliary sleeve 71 surrounds threaded extension 67 at its lower extremity, and by adjustment of the nuts 69 and 70 the downward extension of sleeve 71 may be varied. The lower end 72 0f sleeve 71 abuts a bushing 73 which is mounted on a washer 74 in a cup-shaped member 75 which is secured by a bolt 76 to a diaphragm 77, a washer 78 being positioned on the underside of the diaphragm between the diaphragm and the head 79 of bolt 76.

Diaphragm 77, which is made of any suitable flexible waterproof material, is seated between a lower flange 8l) forming an integral part of cylinder 21 and the upper flange 81 of a cup-shaped member 82 which is provided with studs S3 which seat on the base of tank 10. Suitable bolts S4 and nuts 85 secure the diaphragm 77 in position.

An opening 87 in the side wall of cylinder 21 above diaphragm 77 communicates with the interior of tank 10, while a second opening 88 in the side wall of cup-shaped member 82 is sealingly connected with a vent pipe S9, the top 90 of which extends to a point adjacent the top of tank 10 and above the normal water level therein. A top air vent 91 is positioned in the side wall of tank 10 adjacent the top thereof, as best shown in FIG. 1.

A compression spring 95 positioned around a stud 96 mounted on the base of cup-shaped member 82 bears against washer 78, and normally biases flexible diaphragm 77 in an upward direction, which, in the absence of pressure exerted in a manner to be described hereinafter, biases bushing 73 upwardly against sleeve 71, which in turn biases rod 56 upwardly to move ball valve 55 to open position out of engagement with its seat 54.

In the use and operation of the device, when the tank is empty the diaphragm 77 is thus forced upwardly by spring 95, and ball valve 5S is consequently unseated. The unseating of ball valve 55 permits any tiuid in chamber 47 or pipe 34 to flow outwardly and downwardly out of opening 65 through opening 64 and thence out opening 87 into the tank. The release of such tluid permits the iioat 42 to drop causing valve 38 to move out of closing position in opening 37. At this time fluid iiows through pipe 17, opening 37 and outlet extension 24 to till the tank. The tank obviously fills faster than water is admitted through opening 87 to the interior of cylinder 21, and the water continues to rise until it extends above the top rim 22 of cylinder 21, at which time the cylinder 21 is filled and water pressure causes the diaphragm 77 to move downwardly to a position to relieve the upward pressure on rod 56, and consequently cause ball valve 5S to close. Continuing flow of Water through opening 38 lills pipe 34 and opening 47, and causes iioat 42 to rise closing the opening 38, thus cutting oi the ow of water from inlet pipe 17 to outlet extension 24. The bore 4i) in tube 39 permits water pressure to be maintained in recess 47 to retain the iioat 42 in valve closing position, the water being prevented from escaping by ball valve 55. When the tank is flushed, the water therein immediately escapes rapidly through outlet 12, while the water in cylinder 21 escapes slowly through opening 87, until such time as the tank is completely flushed. As the water recedes, the pressure on diaphragm 77 is relieved, and spring 95 then moves rod 56 upwardly to open ball valve 55 releasing the water in pipe 34 and recess 47, permitting float 42 to drop and valve 37 to reopen, at which time the tank is refilled through pipe 17, opening 38 and outlet extension 24.

The cycle is obviously repeated each time the tank is iiushed by operation of the actuating handle 16.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved lill valve for flush tanks which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In combination with a flush tank having an outlet valve, a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wall of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing having a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other endI of said cross head of said valve housing and extending oppositely through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a iioat valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a flexible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water filling said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain Water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said float valve in raised valve-closing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valve to release water in said vertical pipe to permit said oat valve to open.

2. In combination with a tiush tank having an outlet valve, a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wall of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing having a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other end of said cross head of said valve housing and extending oppositeiy through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a iioat valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a ilexible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a Water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water illing said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said lioat valve in raised valve-closing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valve to release water in said vertical pipe to permit said float valve to open, and an air vent pipe extending to the top of said iiush tank communicating with the space in said receptacle below said diaphragm.

` 3. In combination with a iiush tank having an outlet valve, a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wall of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other end of said cross head of said valve housing and extending oppositely through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a float valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a exible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting Said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water iilling said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said float valve in raised valve-closing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valve to release water in said vertical pipe to permit said lioat valve to open, and an air vent pipe extending to the top of said flush tank communicating with the space in said receptacle below said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a bushing on the upper surface thereof upon which the end of said rod seats.

4. In combination with a flush tank having an outlet valve, -a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wall of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing having a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other end of said cross head of said valve housing and yextending oppositely through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a doat valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a flexible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water filling said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said float valve in raised valve-closing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valverto release water in said vertical pipe to permit said float valve to open, an air vent pipe extending to the top of said flush tank communicating with the space in said receptacle below said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a bushing on the upper surface thereof upon which the end of said rod seats, and a washer on the underside of said diaphragm against which said spring means seats, said spring means comprising a compression coil spring.

5. In combination with a ilush tank having an outlet valve, a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wall of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing having a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other end of said cross head of said valve housing and extending oppositely through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a oat valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball Valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a iiexible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water lling said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said iloat valve in raised valve-closing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valve to release water in said vertical pipe to permit said float valve to open, an air vent pipe extending to the top of said ush tank communicating with the space in said receptacle below said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a bushing on the upper surface thereof upon which the end of said rod seats, a washer on the underside of said diaphragm against which said spring means seats, said spring means comprising a compression coil spring, said rod having a threaded end, a sleeve surrounding said threaded end and comprising a part thereof contacting said bushing, and adjusting nuts on said threaded end for varying the position of said sleeve and hence the effective length of said rod.

6. In combination with a ush tank having an outlet valve, a tubular upright receptacle having an open top seated on the bottom of the tank, an inlet pipe extending through the wail of said receptacle, a T-shaped valve housing having a stem and a cross head in said receptacle, one end of said cross head being connected to said inlet pipe, an outlet extension connected to the other end of said cross head of said valve housing and extending oppositely through the wall of said receptacle, a horizontal partition having an opening therein in said valve housing, a float valve having a restricted opening therethrough in said stem of said Valve housing movable to open and close said opening, a vertical pipe connected to said stem, a ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a ball valve movable on said ball valve seat in said vertical pipe, a rod in said vertical pipe movable vertically to open said ball valve, a iiexible diaphragm extending across said receptacle at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bottom thereof, spring means normally biasing said diaphragm upwardly, said rod contacting said diaphragm to open said ball valve on upward movement of said diaphragm, said vertical pipe having a water outlet therein, said receptacle having a restricted discharge opening above said diaphragm, whereby water filling said receptacle from its open top will move said diaphragm downwardly to ball valve closing position to retain water in said vertical pipe above said ball valve to hold said float valve in raised valveclosing position until said receptacle has emptied through said restricted discharge opening in said receptacle, said spring then forcing said diaphragm to lift said rod to open said ball valve to release water in said vertical pipe to permit said iioat valve to open, an air vent pipe extending to the top of said flush tank communicating with the space in said receptacle below said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a bushing on the upper surface thereof upon which the end of said rod seats, a washer on the underside of said diaphragm against which said spring means seats, said spring means comprising a compression coil spring, said rod having a threaded end, `a sleeve surrounding said threaded end and comprising a part thereof contacting said bushing, adjusting nuts on said threaded end for Varying the position of said sleeve and hence the effective length of said rod, said float valve having a seal.- ing washer on the top thereof effectively sealing said opening in said partition, and a flexible skirt surrounding said oat valve sealing said stem when said valve is open.

No references cited. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FLUSH TANK HAVING AN OUTLET VALVE, A TUBULAR UPRIGHT RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPEN TOP SEATED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, AN INLET PIPE EXTENDING THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID RECEPTACLE, A T-SHAPED VALVE HOUSING HAVING A STEM AND A CROSS HEAD IN SAID RECEPTACLE, ONE END OF SAID CROSS HEAD BEING CONNECTED TO SAID INLET PIPE, AN OUTLET EXTENSION CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CROSS HEAD OF SAID VALVE HOUSING AND EXTENDING OPPOSITELY THROUGH THE WALL OF SAID RECEPTACLE, A HORIZONTAL PARTITION HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN IN SAID VALVE HOUSING, A FLOAT VALVE HAVING A RESTRICTED OPENING THERETHROUGH IN SAID STEM OF SAID VALVE HOUSING MOVABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID OPENING, A VERTICAL PIPE CONNECTED TO SAID STEM, A BALL VALVE SEAT IN SAID VERTICAL PIPE, A BALL VALVE MOVABLE ON SAID BALL VALVE SEAT, A ROD IN SAID VERTICAL PIPE MOVABLE VERTICALLY TO OPEN SAID BALL VALVE, A FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGM EXTENDING ACROSS SAID RECEPTACLE AT A POINT ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SPRING MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAID DIAPHRAGM UPWARDLY, SAID ROD CONTACTING SAID DIAPHRAGM TO OPEN SAID BALL VALVE ON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, SAID VERTICAL PIPE HAVING A WATER OUTLET THEREIN, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING A RESTRICTED DISCHARGE OPENING ABOVE SAID DIAPHRAGM, WHEREBY WATER FILLING SAID RECEPTACLE FROM ITS OPEN TOP WILL MOVE SAID DIAPHRAGM DOWNWARDLY TO BALL VALVE CLOSING POSITION TO RETAIN WATER IN SAID VERTICAL PIPE ABOVE SAID BALL VALVE TO HOLD SAID FLOAT VALVE IN RAISED VALVE-CLOSING POSITION UNTIL SAID RECEPTACLE HAS EMPTIED THROUGH SAID RESTRICTED DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID SPRING THEN FORCING SAID DIAPHRAGM TO LIFT SAID ROD TO OPEN SAID BALL VALVE TO RELEASE WATER IN SAID VERTICAL PIPE TO PERMIT SAID FLOAT VALVE TO OPEN. 